Passengers aboard the Villa Vie Odyssey cruise ship have raised complaints about a foul odour permeating the vessel due to toilet flushing issues that occurred at the beginning of their voyage. The luxurious around-the-world cruise, promising stops at 425 ports across 147 countries over three and a half years, faced a series of setbacks, leading to a delayed departure from Belfast after several months of waiting.
Some passengers, including Joe Rhodes, nicknamed the ship “SS Clusterf***” after experiencing a string of problems once the journey commenced. Rhodes detailed issues such as lack of hot water, non-functional showers, inoperative TV channels, and swimming pools. The situation escalated when the toilets ceased flushing, leaving a challenging environment for residents.
Following the incident in Brest, France, where water was cut off entirely, passengers were faced with unflushed toilets, emitting a distressing stench throughout the corridors. The ship’s management attributed the water problems to inadequate installation of water tanks by the previous owners, resulting in a quick filling waste tank.
After swift repairs, including resolving the water and sewage issues, passengers reported a significant improvement in the ship’s conditions as they continued their journey. While acknowledging initial hurdles, passengers like Andy Garrison highlighted the positive aspects of the voyage, focusing on the overall experience rather than dwelling on past challenges.
Randy Cassingham, a passenger on board with his wife, noted that despite some setbacks with water tanks, the cruise experience has been largely positive, with ongoing enhancements being made to various services. Acknowledging the nature of a shakedown cruise for a refurbished 30-year-old vessel, Cassingham emphasised the need for understanding towards teething problems in the initial stages of the journey.
Villa Vie’s CEO, Mikael Petterson, addressed the water tank issue, clarifying that temporary water shutdowns were necessary for tank maintenance, and full functionality was restored promptly. Petterson also reassured passengers that planned upgrades, such as replacing swimming pools, costing over $700, are underway to enhance the onboard facilities.
In conclusion, despite facing initial challenges, Villa Vie Odyssey’s cruise ship is making steady progress in resolving operational issues and providing a more enjoyable experience for passengers as they continue their global voyage.